President Marcos grants amnesty to former NPA rebels

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has issued several proclamations granting amnesty to former separatist rebels and communist insurgents as part of his administration’s peace initiatives, Malacañang said on Friday.

The President also signed Executive Order 47 amending the functions of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) to cover the processing of applications for amnesty under the new proclamations.

Under Proclamation 403, Marcos granted amnesty to members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and special penal laws, specifically those crimes committed in pursuit of their political beliefs, whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws.

Marcos also issued Proclamation 404 granting amnesty to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and Special Penal laws in furtherance of their political beliefs.

The amnesty is granted to former CPP-NPA-NDF members, or their front organizations, that committed crimes whether punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws, including but not limited to rebellion or insurrection; conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion or insurrection; disloyalty of public officers or employees; inciting to rebellion or insurrection; sedition; conspiracy to commit sedition and inciting to sedition, the proclamation read.

Other offenses include illegal assembly; illegal association; direct assault; indirect assault; resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or the agents of such person; tumults and other disturbances of public order; unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances; alarms and scandals; illegal possession of firearms, ammunition or explosives, provided that these crimes or offense were committed in furtherance of, incidental to or in connection with rebellion or insurrection.

Also covered are those charged, detained or convicted of common crimes but who can establish by substantial